The good, the bad and the undetermined

Garrick See

I could talk about the new President, but you must have heard about it to death by now. So, let’s just leave it that way then. What else can we conjure up now that the election is over? Do we have nothing else to debate, talk, discuss or converse about anymore?

It’s true that bad news is always good for attraction and publicity. Nobody likes reading about the boy who got straight A’s or the old lady who found her long lost love. No, we like to read about the fall of a superstar singer or the messed up life of a pro football player. It is in human nature to want something bad to happen to someone else in order for us to feel good about ourselves. Now, I know you may fight with me on this and I welcome your opinions in any shape or form, but somewhere out there in this world there are people who think that way and immerse themselves in this philosophy.

“I swear, by my life and my love of it, that I will never live for the sake of another man, nor ask another man to live for mine.” – Ayn Rand

We are taught that we were born innocent into this world and later corrupted by society, in which we have to determine the path to follow. We have a vast array of extremes in people ranging from selfless angels to deviant psychopaths. Being in a very Christian community, we are taught by our elders in school, church or at home that we should do good to others as we have them do unto us. But, if the world really perishes one day and all civilization goes to shreds, will our good human nature still stand strong in spite of the situation?

From what we learn from The Joker, he said that humans will always think of themselves ahead of others when there are dire times, and to everyone’s relief, his theory was proven wrong at the end when he involved both ships. So, how do we justify that what is good is actually good and what is bad is actually bad?

There is a fine line between hurting people and acting in self-defense. A government that leaned toward their understanding of good and evil constructed that fine line and we, as citizens, have to abide it. So, what if we have a blank slate in determining the true human nature? Would we really choose happiness of others over ourselves? Are you willing to give up everything, or at least a part of it, to people whom you do not know?

There is no way to escape any kind of influence these days in a world full of prior guidance. We would have to be born in an empty, forsaken land in order to test our true human nature. So, for now I will just leave you with a question – is man naturally good or bad?
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